Magic of Life Pagan Ministries History
(A Timeline)
by Aylah Hallel June 3, 2017
Rowan Tree Coven was formed and named in February of 2003 at me and William's apartment at 238 King Street in Medford. There had been several predecessors to Rowan Tree Coven but for some reason none of them lived for very long, usually the celebrants would wonder off for summer break or some such thing and then never return.
In early September 2006 William and I bought a house and moved to Flanders Street in White City. I started forming a dream to manifest my desire of having a large coven. The experience that I had that had always stuck in my mind was when William and I were with The Haverat Shir Hadash, Jewish Renewal Community is Ashland. It was and still is an awesome amazing place – there were programs for all age groups, education, rituals and lots of social events.
We were with the Haverat when they began their search for a piece of property and a building. It was exciting and I learned a lot about how to get a group of people on board with an idea. Rabbi David was so excited and he got everyone excited and talking about this place – this holy and sacred space that was just for them and their children and all of their weddings and shabbats and blessings. In my life I had heard a lot about Jews and the stereotype of the greedy Jew and money – that was not my observations with this group of people. These people believed in community, they believed that their community needed a place of it's own and lots of programs and people to run those programs and this group of people where willing to take out their check books and pay for it.
After we moved to White City I began dreaming about creating a large Pagan community using the Haverat as the model.
In September 2006 not too long after we moved into the house in White City Todd joined us. We were his first experience with a coven and he tells the story that he knew instantly that this coven was his sacred space.
In early March 2007 we took over Persephone’s Garden in the Underground Marketplace and named it The Rowan Tree Pagan Art and Ritual Supply Shop where we also began running rituals.
The previous owner belonged to a path known as Hoodo, much of what was in the shop was to accommodate her belief system. We got very little business the first year and what we did get knew nothing about the majority of the stock we were carrying.
Part of the purpose for the shop was to provide a sacred space for public rituals and Magic school. I thought the Underground Marketplace was perfect for that. So in April 2007 we had our first public ritual, 35 people came!
After that first ritual in April a discussion came up among myself and some of the attendees that we should form as a “church.” So in May 2007 we had our first official board meeting consisting of myself, Todd, William, and some others. At that meeting I made a formal request to the newly formed board of directors to change the name of the organization from Rowan Tree Coven to Rowan Tree Pagan Ministries.
In May 2007 I started filling out and writing Form 1023 to become a nonprofit organization.
In May 2007 we registered and incorporated with The State of Oregon Non-profit Division as Rowan Tree Pagan Ministries.
In June 2007 our landlords could see that we were drowning so they moved us across the hall in the Underground Marketplace to a space that was 550 square feet with our rent at $500. They also ended the triple net agreement to only include rent.
From June 2007 until March 2008 I continued to write Form 1023 while we tried unsuccessfully to raise the $300 needed for the fee to the IRS to receive our non-profit status.
In July 2007, because the new shop was so small (550 square feet overall) we started doing rituals out in the commons area. At times this was difficult because the Mexican restaurant was open well into ritual times creating noise and foot traffic from folks coming down to eat. At other times it was quiet, creating a lovely and Magical place for rituals and other community events.
During the time the ministry was in the Underground we hosted a psychic fair, several concerts, a book signing, Swami Ty had meeting with us in the commons, Yoga, didgeridoo class, a membership meeting that drew 35 people, full moon and holiday rituals and several Witch's balls.
In March of 2008 one of the ministers made an announcement after a ritual that we were trying to raise money for the non-profit fee. At that point in the Rowan Tree's history we had a celebrant whose father had recently passed away and left her an inheritance. She asked me how far we were from being finished with the 1023. I told her I could mail it “tomorrow.” She asked to see our donation jar and when she gave it back the needed $300 was in it, wrapped around a cinnamon stick and tied with a red ribbon.
The next day in March 2008 all of the ministers gathered at the shop, we each got tea and sat around the table sipping tea, burning incense and lighting candles, each of us talking about what it meant to us – the mailing of this application that in essence was going to make our little Magical child “official.” Each of us put our hand in the envelope and blessed the application. The application was mailed that afternoon.
In May 2008 I came to the shop from work one day and hanging on the door, William had tapped the acknowledgment letter from the IRS that our application had been received.
In July 2008 we received the non-profit certificate.
In June 2010 we closed the shop.
On May 1, 2011 William and I moved to 410 Hamilton Street in Medford. Later that day we had a small private Beltain ritual at the Fae ponds in Lithia Park.
In June 2011 we had our first highly publicized, public ritual after moving to Hamilton Street at Bear Creek Park, there were 42 attendees.
August 2011 The Board of Directors reformed with current board members Aylah, William and Todd and were joined by four others. To which later Stanley Svendsen would join and the little yellow house on Hamilton Street was named Rowan Tree Pagan Ministries – Center for Spiritual Development or as the celebrants lovingly referred to it, “The Center.”
September 2011 Bylaws were revised and rewritten to change the office of Board Members to Council of Ministers and new guidelines were written for education and ordination of the Ministers and the mission of Rowan Tree Pagan Ministries came into sharp focus as a ministry that would concern itself with teaching, healing and leading. Magic school commenced for the first time in two years.
Rowan Tree Pagan Ministries operated from Hamilton Street for three years.
In Feb 2014 I (Aylah) moved to Central Point. My friend Kerry along with his family owned the property that was sitting vacant located at 49 S. 2nd Street in Central Point. I had approached Kerry about the ministry renting part or all of the space to which he was agreeable. The idea was presented to the Council of Ministers in March 2014 but no support was received for the idea.
June 2014 – Myself, Todd, William, and Stanley retired from the ministry and released the care of the organization to another member.
In May 2017 The previous Ministers of Rowan Tree Pagan Ministries including myself (Aylah,) William, Todd and Stanley, joined by Jim Evans and Tamara Graham took steps to reform and reconstitute the organization.
June 3rd, 2017 We had our first board meeting of the reformed organization of Rowan Tree Pagan Ministries.
March 23, 2020 the entire world was forced into shut down due to covid.
March 2022 Oregon was released from masked mandates which was the last aspect of the covid lock downs.
From March 2022 until May 2024 the Rowan Tree was in a state of suspension as we regrouped and rebranded.
March 26, 2024 RTPM was rebranded as Magic of Life Pagan Ministries were, still today, we teach Magic school, lead rituals and help folks heal.